Method and system for providing wireless lan service using rental digital television

ABSTRACT

A method and system for providing a wireless LAN service using a rental digital television is provided. When a wireless-LAN-embedded digital television leased to a first user is turned on, the digital television accesses a management authentication server using a service server included in the digital television to determine whether or not the first user is a lease service subscriber. A TV tuner of the digital television is activated if the first user is a lease service subscriber. When a terminal of a second user has accessed an access point of the digital television, the digital television accesses the management authentication server using the service server to determine whether or not the second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber. A wireless LAN service is provided to the terminal of the second user if the second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless LAN, and more particularlyto a method and system for providing a wireless LAN service using arental digital television.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, television broadcasts are changing from analog to digital.Electronic products are also changing from analog to digital.Low-quality media devices are increasingly replaced with high-qualitymultimedia devices. Although the demand for digital televisions is onthe rise in the course of such commercial, social, and cultural changes,it is difficult to spread digital televisions since they are veryexpensive compared to the demand.

Wireless LAN is a new technology which attracts a lot of attentionrecently. Due to the new Intel Centrino technology, wireless LAN cardsare installed in many notebook computers and wireless LAN features areadded to many portable devices. Despite of this fact, the wireless LANis not widely used. One reason is that an access point used in thistechnology, which is a point of connection to a wired network, isavailable only in a limited area and has low mobility. Another reason isthat the wireless LAN technology does not provide servicesdifferentiated from services provided through the wired network due toits low bandwidth compared to that of the wired network. Although manyresearchers strive to establish a new standard solving such problems andto improve the performance of the wireless LAN, the wireless LAN isstill not widely used.

As described above, it is difficult to spread the digital television andwireless LAN due to the high price of the digital television and thelimited available range of the access point and thus difficult toprovide a variety of services using the digital television and wirelessLAN.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodfor providing a wireless LAN service using a rental digital television,which overcomes the above problems associated with the spread of thedigital television and wireless LAN, whereby digital televisioncustomers can easily install both a digital television and anenvironment for use of a wireless LAN in their home or place of businessto receive a variety of services, wireless LAN users can access and useenvironments in which it is easy to use the wireless LAN, and serviceproviders can easily spread access points using the demand for digitaltelevisions and thus can increase the number of wireless LAN servicesubscribers to provide a variety of services to them.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system forproviding a wireless LAN service using a rental digital televisionaccording to the above method.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method forproviding a wireless LAN service using a rental digital television, themethod comprising accessing a management authentication server using aservice server included in a wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionleased to a first user when the wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionis turned on and determining whether or not the first user is a leaseservice subscriber; activating a TV tuner of the wireless-LAN-embeddeddigital television if the first user is a lease service subscriber;accessing the management authentication server using the service serverwhen a terminal of a second user has accessed an access point of thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television and determining whether or notthe second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber; and providing awireless LAN service to the terminal of the second user if the seconduser is a wireless LAN service subscriber.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a system for providing a wireless LAN service using a rentaldigital television, the system comprising a management authenticationserver in which lease service subscriber information and wireless LANservice subscriber information is stored; a terminal of a second userincluding a modem for accessing an access point; and awireless-LAN-embedded digital television leased to a first user,wherein, when the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television is poweredon, a TV tuner included in the wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionis activated if the first user is a lease service subscriber and, whenthe wireless-LAN-embedded digital television is connected to theterminal of the second user, the wireless-LAN-embedded digitaltelevision provides a wireless LAN service to the terminal of the seconduser if the second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber, whereinthe wireless-LAN-embedded digital television includes the TV tuner foroutputting a received broadcast signal to a display panel; an accesspoint connected to a wired network, the access point being accessed bythe terminal; and a service server, wherein, when thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television is turned on, the serviceserver accesses the management authentication server to determinewhether or not the first user is a lease service subscriber and, whenthe terminal has accessed the access point, the service server accessesthe management authentication server to determine whether or not thesecond user is a wireless LAN service subscriber.

In the following description, a user who desires to lease a digitaltelevision is defined as a first user, a user who desires to use awireless LAN service is defined as a second user, a user who desires touse an Internet phone service is defined as a third user, and a user whodesires to purchase digital content through a wireless LAN is defined asa fourth user.

The invention provides a digital television combined with an accesspoint. In the invention, a server (i.e., a management authenticationserver) that performs authentication of connection to the wireless LANthrough the hybrid digital television and that supports or performs aprocess for paying the connection fee is connected to the Internet. Thedigital television is designed to activate the access point when thedigital television is powered on in order to induce lease servicesubscribers provided with the digital television to keep the accesspoint active as long as possible. The digital television operates incombination with the management authentication server on the Internet tocontrol basic wireless LAN connection operations.

Preferably, an incentive proportional to the number of accesses to theaccess point by wireless LAN service subscribers can be provided towired network subscribers provided with digital televisions in order toimprove the quality of services provided to the wireless LAN servicesubscribers. Preferably, digital televisions are identified withrespective serial numbers to allow the management authentication serverto obtain access statistics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing a wireless LAN service using arental digital television according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionused in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure for connection of thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television used in the system of FIG. 1 toa backbone network;

FIG. 4 illustrates a system for providing a wireless LAN service using arental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of a wireless LAN activation step inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart of a ticket purchase step in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The preferred embodimentscan be modified to various other forms and the scope of the invention isnot limited to the embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing a wireless LAN service using arental digital television according to an embodiment of the invention.

The invention uses a wireless-LAN-embedded digital television to meet acombination of a demand for a digital television and a demand for moreconvenient environments for use of a wireless LAN.

For efficient spread of the wireless LAN, the invention combines adigital television which is a video medium with an access point which isa basic element of the wireless LAN and provides the combined digitaltelevision to a wired network subscriber (specifically, a lease servicesubscriber 110) and provides a method which allows a wireless LANservice subscriber 120 to receive the right to use the wireless LAN fromthe wired network subscriber and then to access the Internet through thewireless LAN.

The following is a description of features of this business model fromthe viewpoint of each of a service provider (specifically, a digitaltelevision lease service provider 100), the lease service subscriber110, and the wireless LAN service subscriber 120.

First, the digital television lease service provider 100 leases adigital television for free or at low cost and provides a wireless LANservice, thereby making it possible to easily attract subscribers andalso to create benefits from lease of digital televisions and sale ofwireless LAN tickets (or access rights). In addition, it is possible tocreate benefits from use of the digital television, which is a highperformance video medium, as an advertisement medium and also to createbenefits from connection of various wireless devices to the Internet.

The lease service subscriber 110 can lease a digital television at lowcost without directly purchasing the television and can also receive awireless LAN service in near places.

The wireless LAN service subscriber 120 can use Internet services in aplace where such a hybrid digital television is installed in the samemanner as in a place where a conventional access point is installed andthus can use various services such as Internet services moreconveniently.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionused in the system of FIG. 1.

The wireless-LAN-embedded digital television includes a DSL or cablemodem 210, an access point 220, a TV tuner 230, and a display panel 240.The DSL or cable modem 210 is connected to a broadband network andoperates in combination with the access point 220.

The DSL or cable modem 210, which is connectable to a wired network, andthe access point 220 may be integrated and manufactured as a singlemodem board. This modem board includes a wired modem portion which isthe DSL or cable modem 210 and a wireless modem portion which is theaccess point 220. The modem board includes a service server and anaccess management tool which are able to manage accesses by wireless LANusers. Through the service server and the access management tool, thedigital television operates in combination with a managementauthentication server of a service provider on the Internet to perform apayment operation and an access authentication operation.

When the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television is turned on, aservice server included in the modem 210 such as a DSL modem or a cablemodem or the access point 220 accesses the management authenticationserver to determine whether or not a first user is a lease servicesubscriber. In addition, when a terminal of a second user accesses theaccess point, the service server included in the modem 210 accesses themanagement authentication server to determine whether or not a seconduser is a wireless LAN service subscriber.

The user can watch the digital television only after the modem 210 isactivated to access the Internet and authentication is performed by themanagement authentication server of the service provider.

The access point 220, which is accessed by the terminal, is connected toa wired network.

The terminal of the second user can use wireless LAN services only afterit accesses the wireless LAN and authentication is then performed by themanagement authentication server. To help the management authenticationserver perform the authentication process, a service server is run inthe access point 220 or the modem 210 such as a DSL or cable modem. Whena terminal of a wireless LAN service user has been connected to theaccess point 220, the access point 220 may operate in combination withthe management authentication server to terminate the connection of theterminal if a specific connection condition is not satisfied, forexample based on a given time period or range or specific dates.

The TV tuner 230 outputs a received broadcast signal to the displaypanel 240. The received broadcast signal includes a general terrestrialsignal, a satellite broadcast signal, a cable broadcast signal, etc.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure for connection of thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television used in the system of FIG. 1 toa backbone network.

A wireless-LAN-embedded digital television 300 is leased to a first userwho desires to use a digital television. When the digital television 300is powered on, a TV tuner 230 included in the digital television 30 isactivated if the first user is a lease service subscriber. When thedigital television 300 is connected to a terminal of a second user, thedigital television 300 provides a wireless LAN service to the terminalof the second user if the second user is a wireless LAN servicesubscriber.

The terminal of the second user includes a modem for connection to anaccess point.

The service provider installs a management authentication server 330 forservice maintenance and management and operates the managementauthentication server 330 by connecting it to the Internet. Themanagement authentication server 330 is connected to thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television 330 through the backbonenetwork 310 and the Internet server 320 of the Internet serviceprovider.

Preferably, when the first user makes a request to lease a digitaltelevision, the management authentication server 330 records informationof the first user including a lease fee and registers the first user asa lease service subscriber. The management authentication server 330 mayadjust the lease fee according to the number of times and how longterminals access the access point 220.

Basic functions of the management authentication server 330 include usermanagement, payment, collection of access-related statisticalinformation, and provision of information for convenience of users. Themanagement authentication server 330 stores lease service subscriberinformation and wireless LAN service subscriber information.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system for providing a wireless LAN service using arental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention.

An advertisement image server 490 stores advertisement image informationof a plurality of advertisers.

Each digital television includes a display panel 400, a packet receiver410, an image storage 450, and an image transmitter 460.

The packet receiver 410 accesses the advertisement image server 490 andreceives advertisement image information.

The image storage 450 stores the received advertisement imageinformation. The image storage 450 includes at least one of a volatilememory element, a nonvolatile memory element, and a hard disk drive.

The image transmitter 460 outputs an image produced by decoding thestored advertisement image information to a screen of the digitaltelevision.

The modem 210 may include the packet receiver 410, the image storage450, and the image transmitter 460.

Advertisement image information is transmitted from the advertisementimage server 490 to the digital television through the Internet and isthen recorded in a storage medium included in the modem. At a specifictime or under a specific condition, the recorded information is forciblytransmitted to the display panel 400 to be output through it.

At any other time, the user can freely watch broadcasts on the digitaltelevision. The advertisement image information may be output instead ofall or part of the TV image at a specific time or under a specificcondition. The advertisement image information is automaticallycommunicated between the packet receiver 410 and the advertisement imageserver 490. Thereafter, regardless of whether it is connected to thenetwork, the modem automatically broadcasts the advertisement imageinformation through the display panel 400, irrespective of anymanipulation done by the lease service subscriber. Althoughadvertisement image information carrying the same advertisement may becollectively transmitted and broadcast to digital televisions, aspecific advertisement may be individually transmitted and broadcast toa specific digital television as needed, thereby providing targetedadvertisement. To accomplish this, the server has a list of serialnumbers of digital televisions and transmits desired advertisement imageinformation to a digital television identified with its serial number.

The system of FIG. 4 may also be used to provide various services,examples of which include operation of a digital content shopping malland a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone using a wireless LAN.

In the case where the system is applied to the VoIP phone service, aVoIP phone that can access a wireless LAN can access the managementauthentication server 330 and the management authentication server 330can perform call management, specifically, management of call durations,call rates or fees, and the like of the phone.

The phone of the third user is incorporated into VoIP software.

When the phone accesses the access point 220, a service server 210accesses the management authentication server 330 to determine whetheror not the third user is an Internet phone service subscriber.

If the third user is an Internet phone service subscriber, the accesspoint 220 provides an Internet phone service to the phone of the thirduser.

In the case where the system is applied to the shopping mall service,the management authentication server 330 operates to provide shoppingmall functions in addition to the above-mentioned advertisementfunctions, so that it can sell digital content (for example, MP3, movie,and e-book content) through the Internet.

If a fourth user inputs purchase information to purchase digital contentrepresented by a displayed image to a terminal of the fourth user, thenthe terminal accesses the access point 220.

If the terminal of the fourth user accesses the access point 220, thenthe management authentication server 330 requests confirmation of thepurchase information from the terminal of the fourth terminal. When thefourth user has confirmed the purchase information, the managementauthentication server 330 transmits digital content according to thepurchase information to the terminal of the fourth user. The system maybe designed to use an external server other than the managementauthentication server 330 to request confirmation of the purchaseinformation and to transmit digital content according to the purchaseinformation to the terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention.

First, power is supplied to a wireless-LAN-embedded digital televisionleased to a first user or the power of the digital television is turnedon by operating a power button (510).

When the digital television is turned on, an access point is initialized(520).

The access point initialization establishes a connection to the wirednetwork. Then, if the network is ready (530), a service server includedin the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television is used to access themanagement authentication server (540). If the network is not ready(530), the operation of the digital television is stopped and the accesspoint is reinitialized (520).

When the digital television has been connected to the managementauthentication server, it is determined whether or not the first user isa lease service subscriber (550). Preferably, this step (550) includesthe step of recording information of the first user including a leasefee and registering the first user as a lease service subscriber at themanagement authentication server when the first user has made a digitaltelevision lease request.

If the first user is not a lease service subscriber, the digitaltelevision again accesses the management authentication server (540)after waiting for a predetermined time (555).

If the first user is a lease service subscriber, a TV tuner of thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television is activated (560).

Finally, the access point of the wireless-LAN-embedded digitaltelevision is used to provide a wireless LAN service to a terminal of asecond user (570).

Preferably, this step (570) includes the step of adjusting the lease feeaccording to the number of times and how long terminals access theaccess point at the management authentication server.

Each digital television has a fixed product number. When power issupplied to the digital television, its modem board accesses amanagement authentication server of a service provider through theInternet. After performing authentication, the management authenticationserver transmits a message, which contains information indicatingwhether or not the authentication is successful, to the digitaltelevision. The digital television gets a control right according to themessage.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of the wireless LAN activation step(570) of FIG. 5.

A process for authenticating a wireless LAN service subscriber isexplained in the description of FIG. 6. First, a terminal of a seconduser detects a wireless LAN (specifically, a wireless LAN access point)that can be accessed by the terminal (610).

Then, the terminal accesses the detected access point using a webbrowser of the terminal (615). After detecting the access by theterminal of the second user (620), the wireless LAN access pointtransmits an authentication webpage to the terminal so that theauthentication webpage is displayed on the web browser of the terminal(625).

The second user logs in through the web browser (630). If it isdetermined through the login process that the terminal of the seconduser has a ticket (or access right), the wireless LAN access pointpermits the access of the terminal to the Internet (or public network)through the wireless LAN after performing authentication processes(640-659). If the terminal of the second user has no ticket (or accessright), the second user signs up (630) and purchases a ticket (or accessright) through payment (655).

Thereafter, the terminal can again access the access point to use theInternet in the same method as described above. An available time periodor range or available dates are defined in the ticket. If the ticket isused for longer than a specific time, the wireless LAN access pointdetermines whether or not to terminate the connection of the terminalwhile periodically checking how long the terminal has been connected tothe Internet (680).

FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart of the ticket purchase step (655) ofFIG. 6.

The flow chart of FIG. 7 illustrates a payment process for obtaining aticket (or access right) in the wireless LAN access process. First, awireless LAN user receives information from the managementauthentication server through the access point (i.e., thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television). When the user determines,based on the received information, that a ticket (access right) of theuser is expired or its remaining period (or time) is shorter thanrequired, the user makes a payment attempt request in order to accessthe Internet (710). Here, the management authentication server informsthe user of the remaining period of the ticket (access right) (720-740)and awaits payment by the user. The user inputs and transmits paymentinformation to the server (750) to extend the period of the ticket ofthe user (760). When this process is completed, the managementauthentication server updates information of the ticket of the currentuser of the access point which is an intermediate medium (770) and theaccess point permits access of the terminal to the Internet according tothe updated information (780).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention.

The flow chart of FIG. 8 illustrates how a phone connection service isprovided through VoIP. A VoIP phone capable of accessing a wireless LAN(or wireless LAN module) is leased to a place such as a restaurant or acoffee shop to which a wireless-LAN-embedded digital television has beenleased. Then, it is possible to provide an inexpensive voicecommunication service through a wireless LAN module of the digitaltelevision.

If a third user turns on the phone or picks up its receiver (810), thephone accesses the management authentication server through the wirelessLAN to which the phone has been connected (815). Here, if the phone ofthe third user accesses the access point, it accesses the managementauthentication server using a service server included in thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television (815).

The management authentication server checks a ticket of the third userto determine whether or not the third user is an Internet phone servicesubscriber (820-875).

Here, the phone transmits authentication information required to checkthe ticket to the management authentication server (830). When themanagement authentication server completes authentication of the ticket(835), the phone displays the authenticated ticket information and isthen ready for sending a call (840 and 860).

When the third user attempts to send a call by pressing a button on thephone (865), the management authentication server checks theauthenticated ticket (870) and determines whether or not the third useris an Internet phone service subscriber (875).

If the third user is an Internet phone service subscriber, themanagement authentication server provides an Internet phone service tothe phone of the third user (880).

The following are some technical features required to accomplish such aservice.

The VoIP phone is basically able to access the wireless LAN. The VoIPphone is activated after being connected to and authenticated by amanagement authentication server that is installed on the Internet tooperate digital televisions.

The management authentication server has a list of VoIP phones andstores information regarding the respective rights to use the VoIPphones. A billing process involves a ticket purchase process (850) inwhich the user purchases a ticket (or use right) through the managementauthentication server using another terminal such as a PC connected tothe wireless LAN in a similar manner to the payment process. As needed,the VoIP phone may be connected to a public telephone network to make itpossible to make a phone call using the VoIP phone. For spread of such aservice, an incentive such as discount of the lease fee may be providedto the lease service subscriber of the digital television according tothe amount of calls made using the phone.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method for providing a wireless LAN serviceusing a rental digital television according to another embodiment of theinvention.

The method of FIG. 9 is applied to operation of a shopping mall.

A wireless-LAN-embedded digital television receives advertisement imageinformation transmitted from an advertisement image server (905) andoutputs an image produced by decoding the advertisement imageinformation to a screen of the digital television (910). A portion ofthe screen of the digital television is used to advertise a variety ofdigital content and to present a method for accessing the managementauthentication server. Purchase information (for example, a purchasecode) used to purchase digital content can be displayed on the screen(920).

Upon viewing the displayed purchase information, the user can access themanagement authentication server through the presented access method topurchase the corresponding content. Payment in this purchase process maybe made using an already purchased right to use the Internet or using aseparate payment process. Examples of digital content that can be soldinclude MP3, movie, e-book, newspaper, and cartoon.

If a fourth user inputs purchase information of digital contentrepresented by a displayed image to a terminal of the fourth user toaccess the access point (930), then the management authentication serverrequests confirmation of the purchase information from the terminal ofthe fourth user (933).

When the fourth user has confirmed the purchase information, themanagement authentication server transmits digital content according tothe purchase information to the terminal of the fourth user (950). Theterminal of the fourth user then downloads the digital contenttransmitted from the management authentication server (960).

As needed, the system may be designed to integrate the advertisementimage server and the management authentication server into a singleserver. In this case, the management authentication server may be usedas the integrated server.

As needed, the system may include an external server in which digitalcontent alone is stored. In this case, the system includes theadvertisement image server, the management authentication server, andthe external server.

Also in this service, an incentive such as discount of the lease fee maybe provided to the lease service subscriber of the digital televisionaccording to purchase results.

Preferably, a program that causes a computer to perform the method forproviding a wireless LAN service using a rental digital televisionaccording to the invention is provided through a computer-readablerecording medium by recording the program on the recording medium.

The invention may be implemented in software. In this case, thecomponents of the invention are code segments for performing requiredoperations. Such program or code segments can be stored in aprocess-readable medium or can be transmitted using computer datasignals combined with a carrier through a transmission medium or acommunication network.

The computer-readable recording medium includes any type of storagedevice that can store data readable by a computer system. Examples ofthe computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, RAM, CD-ROM,DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, hard disk, and opticaldata storage. The computer-readable recording medium can also bedistributed over a network of connected computer systems such that thecomputer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

As is apparent from the above description, the present inventionprovides a system and method for providing a wireless LAN service usinga rental digital television which has a variety of advantages.

For example, digital television customers can easily install both adigital television and an environment for use of a wireless LAN in theirhome or place of business to receive a variety of services. Wireless LANusers can access and use environments in which it is easy to use thewireless LAN. Service providers can easily spread access points usingthe demand for digital televisions and thus can increase the number ofwireless LAN service subscribers to provide a variety of services tothem.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A method for providing a wireless LAN service using a rental digitaltelevision, the method comprising: accessing a management authenticationserver using a service server included in a wireless-LAN-embeddeddigital television leased to a first user when the wireless-LAN-embeddeddigital television is turned on and determining whether or not the firstuser is a lease service subscriber; activating a TV tuner of thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television if the first user is a leaseservice subscriber; accessing the management authentication server usingthe service server when a terminal of a second user has accessed anaccess point of the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television anddetermining whether or not the second user is a wireless LAN servicesubscriber; and providing a wireless LAN service to the terminal of thesecond user if the second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether or not thefirst user is a lease service subscriber includes recording informationof the first user including a lease fee and registering the first useras a lease service subscriber in the management authentication serverwhen the first user has made a digital television lease request, andproviding the wireless LAN service includes adjusting the lease feeaccording to the number of times and how long terminals access theaccess point.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating theTV tuner includes: receiving and storing, at the wireless-LAN-embeddeddigital television, advertisement image information transmitted from anadvertisement image server; and outputting an image produced by decodingthe stored advertisement image information to a screen.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: accessing the managementauthentication server using the service server when a phone of a thirduser has accessed the access point and determining whether or not thethird user is an Internet phone service subscriber; and providing anInternet phone service to the phone of the third user if the third useris an Internet phone service subscriber.
 5. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the wireless-LAN-embeddeddigital television, advertisement image information transmitted from anadvertisement image server and outputting an image produced by decodingthe stored advertisement image information to a screen; requesting, atthe management authentication server, that a terminal of a fourth userconfirm purchase information of digital content represented by the imagewhen the purchase information has been input to the terminal of thefourth user to access the access point; and transmitting digital contentaccording to the purchase information from the management authenticationserver to the terminal of the fourth user when the fourth user hasconfirmed the purchase information.
 6. A system for providing a wirelessLAN service using a rental digital television, the system comprising: amanagement authentication server in which lease service subscriberinformation and wireless LAN service subscriber information is stored; aterminal of a second user including a modem for accessing an accesspoint; and a wireless-LAN-embedded digital television leased to a firstuser, wherein, when the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television ispowered on, a TV tuner included in the wireless-LAN-embedded digitaltelevision is activated if the first user is a lease service subscriberand, when the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television is connected tothe terminal of the second user, the wireless-LAN-embedded digitaltelevision provides a wireless LAN service to the terminal of the seconduser if the second user is a wireless LAN service subscriber, whereinthe wireless-LAN-embedded digital television includes: the TV tuner foroutputting a received broadcast signal to a display panel; an accesspoint connected to a wired network, the access point being accessed bythe terminal; and a service server, wherein, when thewireless-LAN-embedded digital television is turned on, the serviceserver accesses the management authentication server to determinewhether or not the first user is a lease service subscriber and, whenthe terminal has accessed the access point, the service server accessesthe management authentication server to determine whether or not thesecond user is a wireless LAN service subscriber.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 6, wherein, when the first user has made a digitaltelevision lease request, the management authentication server recordsinformation of the first user including a lease fee and registers thefirst user as a lease service subscriber and adjusts the lease feeaccording to the number of times and how long terminals access theaccess point.
 8. The system according to claim 6, further comprising: anadvertisement image server in which advertisement image information isstored, wherein the wireless-LAN-embedded digital television includes: apacket receiver for accessing the advertisement image server andreceiving the advertisement image information; an image storage forstoring the received advertisement image information; and an imagetransmitter for outputting an image produced by decoding the storedadvertisement image information to a screen.
 9. The system according toclaim 6, further comprising: a phone of a third user including Voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) software, wherein, when the phone hasaccessed the access point, the service server accesses the managementauthentication server to determine whether or not the third user is anInternet phone service subscriber, and the access point provides anInternet phone service to the phone if the third user is an Internetphone service subscriber.
 10. The system according to claim 8, furthercomprising: a terminal of a fourth user that accesses the access pointupon receiving purchase information that has been input to purchasedigital content represented by the image, wherein, when the terminal ofthe fourth user has accessed the access point, the managementauthentication server requests the terminal of the fourth user toconfirm the purchase information and, when the fourth user has confirmedthe purchase information, the management authentication server transmitsdigital content according to the purchase information to the terminal ofthe fourth user.